Selections from the Table Talk of Martin Luther

No man can bring his own righteousness before God.

Temptations are not overcome through our own strength.

When others do blaspheme, let us pray.

We cannot pray without faith in Christ the Mediator. The Turks, the Jews, and the ungodly may rehearse and speak the words of prayer after one, but they cannot pray.

Without trouble it is only a cold prattling, and goeth not from the heart; the common saying is "Need teacheth to pray."

Prayer is a strong wall, and a fort of the church; it is a godly Christian's weapon, which no man knoweth nor findeth, but only he who hath the spirit of grace and of prayer.

When our consciences are settled in peace, quieted and comforted through God's spirit, then we must show also and prove our faith by such good works which God hath commanded.

The Gospel is like a fresh, mild, and cool air in the extreme heat of summer, that is, a solace and comfort in the anguish of the conscience. But as this heat proceedeth from the rays of the sun, so likewise the terrifyi…

Wilt thou be an upright Minister and a Shepherd? then love must only do it; thy love to me must do the deed, otherwise it is impossible. For who can endure unthankfulness? to study away his wealth and health, and afterwa…

No human creature can believe how powerful prayer is, and what it is able to effect, but only those that have learned it by experience. I know, as often as I have earnestly prayed, that I have been richly heard, and have…

At such a time I must arm myself and encounter the devil with this text, namely: That Jesus Christ died for me, and through him I have a gracious God and Father; Christ hath made an atonement for me.

How should God deal with us? Good days we cannot bear, evil we cannot endure. Giveth he riches unto us? then are we proud. Giveth he poverty unto us? then are we dismayed, we are impatient, and murmur against him.

Thus goeth it always with God's power in our weakness; for when he is weakest in us, then is he strongest.

Heaven and earth, the castles and palaces of all Emperors, Kings, and Princes, are no way sufficient to make a dwelling-place for God; yet, in a silly human creature that keepeth his Word he will dwell.

When we have God's Word pure and clear, then we are secure, we are negligent and regard it not, we think it will always so remain; we do not watch and pray against the devil, who is ready to tear the Word out of our hear…

True and upright Divinity consisteth in the practice, use, and exercise; her foundation is Christ; she taketh hold by faith on his passion, death, and resurrection.

My best advice and counsel is that we draw water out of the true fountain, that is, diligently to read in the Bible. He is a learned Divine that is well grounded in the Text; for one text and sentence out of the Bible is…

When I find myself in temptation, then I quickly lay hold and fasten on some text in the Bible which Christ Jesus layeth before me, namely, that he died for me, from whence I have and receive comfort.

Without trials and temptations we should never understand anything of the Scriptures; no, not although we diligently read and heard the same. The Holy Ghost must be the only master and tutor to teach us therein.

Our Lord God electeth from hearts, to whom he revealeth his Word, and therewithal he giveth them mouths to speak it; preserveth and maintaineth it, not by sword, but through his Divine Power.

God will keep his Word through the writing-pen upon earth; the Divines are the heads or quills of the pens, but the Lawyers are the stumps.

The second Psalm is one of the best Psalms. I love that Psalm with my heart. It strikes and slashes valiantly amongst the Kings, Princes, Counsellors, Judges, etc.

Let the adversaries rage and swell their fills, and as long as they can. God hath set the sea her bounds; he suffers the same to beat and rage with her waves, as if they would over-run, cover, and drown everything; yet,…

Tyrants, sectaries, seducers, and heretics do nothing else but drive us into the Bible, to make us read more diligently therein, and with more fervency to sharpen our prayers.

I did not learn my divinity at one only time, but I was constrained to search deeper and deeper, to which my temptations brought me; for no man, without trials and temptations, can attain to the true understanding of the…

I esteem those to be the best Preachers which teach the common people and youth most plainly and simply, without subtlety, screwed words, or enlargements.

God himself preacheth, threateneth, reproveth, affrighteth, comforteth, absolveth, administereth the sacraments, etc.

I am sure and certain, when I go up to the pulpit, or to the cathedral, to preach or read, that it is not my word which I speak, but my tongue is the pen of a ready writer, as the Psalmist saith.

A true Christian must hold for certain, and must say, That Word which is delivered and preached to the wicked, to the dissemblers, and to the ungodly, is even as well God's Word as that which is preached to the good and…

Believe in Christ; do what thou oughtest to do in thy vocation. This is the only practice in Divinity.

Let us not lose the Bible, but with all diligence and in God's fear read and preach the same; for if that remaineth, flourisheth, and be taught, then all is safe.

We ought not to measure, censure, and understand the Scriptures according to our own natural sense and reason, but we ought diligently by prayer to meditate therein, and to search after the same.

The chief lesson and study in Divinity is well and rightly to learn to know Christ, for he is therein very friendly and familiarly pictured unto us.

To be short, the Holy Scripture is the best and highest book of God, full of comfort in all manner of trials and temptations; for it teacheth of Faith, Hope, and Love far otherwise than by human reason and understanding…